Fashion Designers Dolce and Gabbana

Established in 1985, the Dolce and Gabbana (also often referred to as D and G) label is a relatively new addition to the world of fashion. Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana first met in Milan in 1980. Dolce studied fashion design and worked for his family's small clothing factory; Gabbana, a graphic designer that had no fashion design experience, grew up in Milan. They started business together in 1982, where they did free-lance designing. The way they view women is said to have a huge part in their success in the fashion world. Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana are huge supporters of independent women who are strong and confident. Their designs represent the way they view women. Sophisticated, sexy and proper, DandG creations are designed to enhance the natural beauty of a woman. Pushing the limits of fashion while leaving something to the imagination.

Their first collection in 1986 won international acclaim, and their first boutique opened in 1989 in Japan. In 1990 they presented their first men's collection and opened their first women's boutique in Milan. That same year, the duo began designing the Complice line for the Genny Group in Milan (Complice had been designed by Versace from 1975 to 1981, and then by Claude Montana until 1987.) In 1992 the brand soon expanded to scarves, knitwear, beachwear, lingerie, ties, perfume, and accessories.

Currently they have two main clothing lines, the couture Dolce and Gabbana line and the younger, more informal D and G line. Earning remarkable financial success, they have taken items like satin corset bodies, black hold-up stockings, fishnets, and maribou trimmed baby dolls out of their previous demimonde existence and put them together in such a way that they have become classy outfits for the new glamorous image of the 1990s. The designers way with a corset has become emblematic of their awesome tailoring talents.

In 1998 Dolce and Gabanna signed a deal with Onward Kashiyama to distribute their designs in Japan, and in 2001, they held their first showing outside Milan. Naturally, given the pair's longtime ties to Hollywood, they chose the Los Angeles area as their venue. The company's retail operations are growing worldwide, with owned and franchised boutiques in place for both the lower-priced DandG and signature Dolce and Gabbana lines throughout Asia, North America, and Europe, as well as in-house boutiques in upscale retail outlets worldwide. About half the company's approximately 50 stores are under the Dolce and Gabbana banner, with the remainder as DandG boutiques. The company entered New York's retail scene in 1997, opening both a flagship Dolce and Gabbana store on the Upper East Side and a DandG shop in SoHo, as well as debuting a West Coast flagship store in Beverly Hills in 2000.

Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, the designers maintained their focus on fun, sexy clothes for men and women, featuring animal prints, vibrant colors, high-tech and experimental fabrics, and innerwear-inspired items. They favor unusual combinations of styles and materials. The Dolce and Gabbana label offers a mix of designer clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories for men, women and juniors.

Dolce and Gabbana has continued to be influenced by Hollywood and to spread the word about its line by outfitting Hollywood celebrities. Some of the super sexy, ultra stylish celebrities choosing to sport D and G designs are Jessica Simpson and Jessica Alba, two of Hollywoods hottest superstars. Dolce and Gabbana has also created costumes and sets for performances and albums for Madonna and have outfitted Mary J. Blige and Whitney Houston for appearances and performances. Musicians and actors sometimes play an influential part in the designs of Dolce and Gabbana.

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